[6thgenSS]

+1

Originally Posted by F1FTY

This thread is starting to remind me of Trump's media style. Throw something out there that'll get attention and you'll have everyone talking about you one way or the other. Free publicity for days.

[F1FTY]

Originally Posted by EFI Tuning

Please no micro aggressions! My snowflakes will melt

[blazzin1]

Originally Posted by 6thgenSS

Completely false, not sure where you went to marketing school but "word of mouth" may have worked in the 1960s but it doesn't anymore because of this little thing called social media. Maybe to those not up to speed on it won't get it but Instagram is one of the latest marketing tools and when you have a few thousand followers there are a lot of eyes on your product every single day not to mention the millions of eyes seeing your product by just searching for hashtags or similar hashtags that are on the post.

There's no point in arguing with someone that is not up to date with social media or a small business that can't understand this, but the facts a real, look at any real company that is not a small business, the all A. Sponsor and B. have social media accounts.

Saying my product is good enough and word of mouth will sell itself is ridiculous and you can do that, don't expect to expand your product lines or to become anything more than you already are.

No, you're right, social media is an important part of marketing in today's society, and should be utilized as much as possible. When I say "word of mouth", I'm not inferring that means face-to-face interactions only! By all means, "Word of mouth" is also spread on social media too! So you're correct, and your marketing degree has finally paid off!!! Rather the intent of my previous long winded post was simply to say that a sponsorship program (giving away free products) is NOT a requirement to sustain a successful business. That's all...settle down sparky!

[Roto-fab 1]

UPDATE TO CLARIFY

As the comments show, some understand the issue I am trying to share and others think I am making a different suggestion. To clarify, I am not speaking out against legit sponsorship, marketing, networking, etc. I’m only referring to two specific small groups. First, the individuals that, without actually seeing the product, are already willing to promote and provide positive reviews in exchange for free product. Second, the manufacturers or dealers that accommodate these people. Are these the reviews you want to read and base your purchasing decision on? Obviously, this behavior compromises the value of reviews on the internet.

My initial post used our product line as an example, but this was really just a friendly warning of what is going on with internet reviews these days-nothing more!

Here is all I was trying to suggest…

To consumers- please be aware this is going on and is a growing trend. When you buy a BBQ grill online based on the positive reviews and the POS that arrives at your door is nothing like the one “everybody” raved about online, this may be why.
To manufacturers, reps, and dealers- Let’s allow legitimate reviews of our products to be the ones shared on the internet. If you don’t like the reviews you are reading about your product, build a better product-don’t buy better reviews!

If anyone else interpreted my message in a different way, I apologize for the misunderstanding.

[cooden]

Originally Posted by 6thgenSS

I love how all the companies are obviously siding with RB, it makes sense, companies wish they could sell without spending money on ads or sponsorship, but they can't and that's why companies do it. Then they wonder why they are all small time companies because they don't have have the knowledge to keep up with the market and make it bug like all the larger companies that all use social media and sponsorship.

I don't really care that they don't want to sponsor, that's fine they can stay small time. Just don't come on here and rant and complain about it. It's part of running a company, if you don't like it and you think your customer's are annoying then go away, we don't want to buy stuff from you anyways!

Your absolutely 100% WRONG! Social media "sponsors" have become a joke now. Let's look at the '16 Camaro Instagram favorites:

Lethal Camaro: He has 35.2K follower on IG plus his Youtube page. I follow Lethal, he seems like a good guy. But let's be honest--so many of his posts on IG are repetitive--there is no substance. Sure he has great reviews once in a while or a product installation how-to, but the majority of his posts are just pictures.

SSlomoe: He has 39.9K followers--I have no idea how this guy has almost 40K followers. No reviews, no nothing. 90% of his pictures are the same picture over and over. No performance mods that I have ever seen either. He has a wrapped SS with ugly big wheels. Tell me why anyone would "sponsor" this guy? How would that sell product?

This new wave of "sponsorship" is the stupidest thing I have heard of. You can argue all day that if someone has 40K followers on IG and you give them a $450 intake, that you just reached 40K people for $450. That's not true--I buy performance parts based on PERFORMANCE, not because some jerkoff on IG puts up a post saying "check out my new Balls Fast CAI! It's great, go buy one". Where's the review? Where's the dyno numbers?

I love social media and I am also on IG, but I sure as hell aren't asking any companies for free products to sponsor me. If you don't want to buy parts based on performance, then keep looking on IG for the "sponsored" cars......

[Dubchitts]

Looking through this thread I'm starting to get a feel for who has been asking for free product in exchange for praise...quite sad tbh.

[I`m Batman]

If Roto-Fab send me a CAI to install, dyno and review, I would give an unbiased review no matter what. You can use me as an independent unbiased review/tested/dyno as well.

When it comes to BBQ grill... Weber Genesis is what I use for my grilling needs... with sear station. lol

[1LE caSSper]

I'm more interested in INDEPENDENT TESTING that what makes me a buyer or not when choosing between products & performance mods..

Before & after dynos, Afr readings BACK TO BACK TESTING on intakes, midpipe headers etc

Almost nothing directly from a manufacturer is believable. No need to go into that. No dyno no buy

Rotofab has surprisingly done a good job of this but yeah like the last post as much as I watch & follow YouTube reviews & iG guys like lethal I support them, appreciate & value their input, time efforts, money spent - BUT i.e. Lethal has never been on a racetrack or road course... I'm not going to buy or be able to take his opinion on how sway bars & feedback feel on the car. Just can't

As roto fab I would target the viewers in the background that rarely chime in. Find reliable sponsoree's to do honest reviews & back to back independent dynos,nothing fancy, push their feedback and findings. That's what really gets my wallet open, everything in sales besides that is just hearsay to me personally